Safety ski binding



Dea 12, 1944 E. o. cRocKl-:R ETAL SAFETY SKI BINDING Filed Sept. 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l ENToRf `//U//cl ce mw E@ @nu mw HN@ Dec. l2, 1944.

E. o. cRQcKER ET Ar.

SAFETY SKI BINDING Filed Sept.' 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY Dec. 12, 1944. E. o. RocKER ET AL .SAFETY SKI BINDING Filed sept. 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORJ eff Croc'e/ /reuer HfTQP/Ey Patented Dec. 12, 1944 static SAFETY SKI BENDING Ernest 0. Crocker, Washington, D. C., and Wallace E. Brenner, Oakland, Calif.

Application September 25, 1942, Serial No. 459,616

Claims.` (Cl. ESO-1135) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The present invention pertains to ski bindings, and has reference more particularly to safety bindings having yieldable toe plates arranged to separate and release in response to a twisting movement of the ski boot relative to the ski, so that in the event of a serious fall the skiers foot will be released from the binding and will prevent any possibility of injury such as might result in the case of a permanently fixed nonre4 leasable binding.

Prior art inventors have for some time recognized the necessity of some form of release for ski bindings and various expedients have been tried in an attempt to perfect mechanically satisfactory release mechanisms, but so far as known to the present inventors these have not been completely successful, since most of them either provide no means for allowing the toe plates to separate from each other 0r else provide spring devices acting directly between the toe plates, so that the tension exerted by the springs is increased as the toe plates are separated. With such an arrangement it will be obvious that the tension forcing the toe plates together is at its greatest when the skiers foot is severely twisted in the binding and incapable of withstanding great spring tension without some possibility of injury. Further, in some of the prior art devices the arrangement has been such that the sole of the skiers boot could directly contact portions of the releasing mechanism, with the result that in case a severe twisting should occur when the weight of the skier was supported by the ski the weight of the individual would tend to prevent perfect operation of the release mechanism and thus defeat its purpose.

It is, accordingly, the prime object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved safety ski binding of novel and improved mechanical design whereby the above disadvantages are overcome.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a pair of separable toe plates for a ski binding in combination with mea'ns to resist the separation of the toe plates during their initial movement when they lie in approximately normal spaced relationship with respect to each other, together with means to actively urge the toe plates apart into 'fully released position when the twisting acin'on of the ski boot is su'cient to CID binding constructed move the toe plates into abnormally spaced relationship.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a ski binding including a step plate spaced above the upper surface of the ski and extending substantially the full width of a ski boot, so that the entire weightvof the skier will be supported by the step plate, and the movable, release devices may be positioned under the step plate where they may be entirely covered and thus free for release movement under any circumstances.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a safety ski binding of novel mechanical design and ruggedI construction well adapted to withstand physical abuse in service and capable of economical mass production methods of manufacture.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the present invention by providing a relatively wide step plate on the upper surface of the ski and spaced apart above the ski suliciently to permit free pivotal movement of a release plate located below and entirely covered by the step plate. A pair'of vertical side toe plates are secured to the step plate and to the release plate respectively, and these are normally maintained in predetermined spaced relationship by a spring detent ar' ranged to ride over a double incline cam, so that as the toe plates are forced apart by the initial twisting movement of the skiers boot the sepa ration is resisted by the spring detent, but when ever the twist is sufcient to indicate an imminent 4serious fall the spring detent will ride across a dead center position of the cam and will then actively spring the toe plates apart into fully separated position to completely release the skiers boot and prevent injury when the fall occurs.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings attached to and forming a part of the present specication,

Fig. 1 is a central sectional View through a ski in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig.- 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 5 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail sectional View of the fixed toe plate fastening taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional view of the shiftable toe plate fastening taken substantially on the plane of the line 1-1 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the step plate and release plate;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the spring detent and double incline cam;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the fixed toe plate;

Fig. 1l is a plan view of the shiftable toe plate;

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a fastening block and a portion of the flat fastening plate of the shiftable toe plate, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the spring CII housing taken substantially on the v.plane of the v line I3-I3 in Fig. 9.

The ski binding includes, in general, ya .foot rest Ill having a forward extension II, and `generally rectangular rear step plate I2 offset slightly above the forward portion andpf .a width approximately equal to the width ofa ski.boot.but slightly narrower than the full width of the ski I3. The step vplate .I2 is mounted on the ski by a front screw I4 at the forward end of the extension I I, anda pair of rear screws I5 extending through lugs I6 offset downwardlyrfromthe step plate as indicated at I1. The offset I1,is slightly greater than the combined thickness ofthe release plate and fasteningange of the shiftable toe plate to be hereinafter described, so that these mechanisms may `befree for unrestricted movement under the step plate.

Axed toeplate 2I is rigidly secured to the lower side of the step plate I2 by :mechanism which, while it permits of adjustment to'accommodate .different widths of ski booths, does :not allow movement of the toe Vvplate after such adjustment is made. The fixed .toe plate `'2| includes an inwardly extending horizontal vfasten-- ing flange 22 provided with .-slots.23,"/24, and 25 to clear the wood screw/S26, 21, and .28 respectively, so that'the .toe plate maybe placed in position and clamped against movement by tightening the screws. includes curved toothed surfaces `3| and 32 at its front and rear edges, -the curved surfaces being arranged to mesh in locking relationship with toothed inserts k33 and 3'4 respectively. These inserts are welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the step plate. The arrangement is such that the teeth of the .forward edge 3l will vengage the teeth of the .insert 33 and the teeth of the rearward edge :32 will engage the teeth of the insert .34, soithat no relative movement between the toe plate `2l 4and the step plate IIl is possible when the screws are tight. .-It may also be mentioned that the fastening Vflange 22 is thickened, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that it will occupy the 'full'space between the lower surface of the step plate II and the .upper surface of the ski, thus acting as a spacer below the step plate.

Any conventional resilient strap adapted to pass Vthrough holes in the toe -plates .2| and 35 .may be 4used for holding the .boot in the toe clamp.

A shiftable toe plate 36 vis .adjustably mounted on the release plate 31, so that vdifferent widths of boots may beaccommodated yby different adyjustments of the toe plate with respect to the release plate, and so that the entire release assembly, consisting of the release plate, toe plate, and fastening means interconnecting them, may shift as a unit in order to release `the boot of the skier in response to atwisting action between the boot and the ski binding.

The shiftable toe plate 36 is provided with a The fastening flange 22 flat horizontal fastening `flange 38 having shoul- 75 and 62 on the release plate 31.

dered slots 4I and 42, a clearance notch 43, a curved, toothed forward edge 44, and curved. toothed rearward edge 45. The teeth of the forward edge 44 are arranged to mesh with the teeth on an insert 46 welded to the upper surface of the release plate 31, and the teeth of the `rearward edge 45 rwill mesh with the teeth of a rear insert I4'I Welded to the extreme rear edge of the release plate 31. The shiftable toe .plate 36 is adjustably fastened to the release plate .31 .by sliding fastening plugs 43 carried by machine screws 49 -threaded into the release plate 31the arrangement being such that while the shiftable 'toe plate 36 may be adjustably positioned with respect to the release plate 31, Yyet when the machine screws 49 are tightened theentire assembly will act as a unit and the movement of the entire unit will be controlled .by spring 'detent and cam mechanisms to be described hereinafter. The release plate 31 is notched-as indicated at 50,:to clear the screw 28.

The toe plate tension control devices of the present structure include a cam and springfietent mechanism associated with the step plate I2 and release Vplate 31, and operatively engaging each other. The cam consists of .double incline cam 5I secured to the plate I0 by welding or any other suitable means, the arrangement being such that the .roller of a spring detent mounted on the release plate will yride over the cam surface and accomplish thedouble function of the toe plate control devices as hereinbefore `pointed out; 'that is, the cam 5I is provided with a rise 52 and a double incline consisting of .the surfaces 53.and 54, it beingobvious that ywhen the roller is in engagement with the surface 53 .it will resist spacing movement of the toe plates of the device, butwhen the roller is moved sufficiently to cross the risef52 itwill coact with the cam surface 54 kto instantly spring the toe plates apart into fully released position. Thus while the fixed toe plate 2| is rigidly secured tothe lower side of the step plate I2 by mechanism which does not allow movement of the .toe plate, the shiftable toe plate I36 and release plate 31 Ymay shift as a unit in order to permit relative separation of the toe plates and release the boot of the skier in response to a twisting action between the boot and -the ski binding. v

The cam roller 56 of the detent device .is rotatably mounted in a bifurcated head portion 51 of a spring plunger consisting of a threaded rod extending through and between the lugs 6i The lugs 6I and 62 extend upwardly from the surface of the release plate, and the forward extension II of the plate I0 is cut away in an arcuate clearance slot 63 so that the release plate 31 will be free for pivotal movement about the screw I4 as a pivot. The head portion 51 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the plate I 0, as indicated in Fig. l, so that there will be no frictional -engagement between the head and the plate, but vthe width of the head is such'that it can not rotate, and, since the rod 58 is permanently secured in the head, the rod will be nonrotatable so `that suitable adjustment of the spring mechanism may be made by rotating th-e spring housing as will hereinafter appear.

It may be noted at this point, however, that the end vofthe plunger rod`56 opposite the head 51 is provided with an enlarged knob Il 'of a diameter greater than the diameter of the perforationin the lug 6I, so :that the spring detent unit will remain fully assembled at all times irrespective of the relationship between the step plate and release plate of the binding.

A spring adjustment to vary the pressure eX- erted by the roller 56 is provided by a coiled compression spring 64 surrounding the rod 58 and positioned inside of a hexagonal spring housing 65. The forward end of the spring bears against the end fiange 66 of the housing and is thus supported by the lug 6I, The rear end of the spring engages a hexagonal nut i'i threaded on the plunger rod 58, and looselyr fitted on the inner surface of the housing so that it may be adjusted longitudinally along the shaft by manual rotation of the housing. The housing 65 may, if desired, be provided with a longitudinal slot B8 on one of its faces in order that an indicating pin 69 attached to the adjusting nut may extend through the slot to give a visible indication of the degree of adjustment of the spring. For this purpose it is contemplated that suitable markings or legible .indicia may be provided on the external surface of the spring housing adjacent the slot 68.

From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel and irnproved ski bi-nding well calculated to overcome the inherent disadvantages of the various types of bindings heretofore in use. Further, it will be seen that the device illustrated in the drawings of this application is not liable to failure, even in the event that a severe twisting movement is exerted when the full weight of the skier is supported by the ski binding structure, with the result that the release mechanism is free for unrestricted operation under any circumstances. Further, it should be noted that the toe plate control devices, consisting of the spring detent and double incline cam mechanism, accomplish an entirely new function in the art, since whenever the toe plates are separated sufficiently to indicate that a serious fall is imminent the control devices respond by actively separating the toe plates to their fully released position.

The device illustrated in the drawings of the present application is submitted as a typical embodiment of the teachings of this invention and as one well adapted to illustration of the principles involved; but it is recognized that certain changes and modifications of the exact structure and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the teachings or underlying principles of this disclosure, and it.

is therefore requested that the scope of the invention be regarded as limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A ski binding including a step plate extending longitudinally of the ski, a release plate below said step plate and pivotally mounted with respect thereto; a pair of toe plates each including a portion underlying the step plate, and fastening means adapted to secure one of said toe plates to the step plate and the other of said toe plates to the release plate; toe plate control devices operatively interconnecting the step plate and release plate, said devices consi-sting of a spring detent carried by the release plate intermediate said toe plates and the forward end of said release plate, and adapted to engage a double incline cam carried by said step plate, whereby the initial movement of separation between the toe plates will be resisted by the spring detent, and continued separation after a predetermined point will be assisted by said spring detent and cam.

2. A ski binding including a step plate extending longitudinally of the ski, a release plate below said step plate and pivotally mounted with respect thereto, a pair of toe plates each including a portion underlying the step plate, and fastening means adapted to secure one of said toe plates to the Astep plate and the other of said toe plates to the release plate; toe plate control devices operatively interconnecting the step plate and release plate, said devices consisting of a spring `detent carried by the release plate intermediate said toe plates and the forward end of said release plate, said spring detent extending through an opening in the forward portion of the step plate and adapted to engage a double incline cam carried by said step plate intermediate said opening and the toe plates, whereby the initial movement of separation between the toe plates will be resisted by the spring detent, and continued separation after a predetermined point will be assisted by said spring detent and cam.

3. A ski binding including a step plate, a release plate pivotally mounted with respect to said step plate; a pair of toe plates comprising a xed and shiftable plate, each including a' fastening portion and means for securing the fastening portions of the fixed end shiftable toe plates to the step plate and release plate respectively, and control means spaced from said toe plates and carried by the forward ends of said step plate and release plate, said control means on they step plate engaging thecontrol means on the release plate, whereby said control means resists relative separation of said toe plate when in normally spaced operating position, and actively urges said toe plates apart into maximum spaced relationship Iwith each other responsive to movement into abnormally spaced apart relationship.

4. A ski binding including a relatively long, narrow, thin step plate extending longitudinally of the ski and having the greater portion of its area spaced slightly above the upper surface of the ski; a release plate below said step plate and pivotally mounted with respect thereto at the front end of said plates; a pair of toe plates comprising a fixed and shiftable plate, each including a flat horizontal fastening portion under the step plate, having curved, toothed forward and rear edges; toothed edges associated with the step and release plates, and adapted to engage the toothed edges of the xed and shiftable toe plates respectively; toe plate control devices operably interconnecting' the step plate and release plate, said control devices comprising a double incline cam surface carried by one of said plates, and a spring detent carried by the other of said plates and adapted to engage said cam; and a pair of rear mounting portions of the step plate, the rear mounting portions being offset downwardly a distance greater than the thickness of the flat fastening portions to completely cover the fiat fastening portion, prevent contact between the sole of the wearer and the fastening means between the release plate and the shiftable toe plate, and thus provide for free movement of the release plate and shiftable toe plate.

5. A ski binding including a step plate having the greater portion of :its area spaced slightly above the upper surface of the ski; a release plate below said step plate and pivotallyrmounted with respect thereto; a pair oftoe plates comprising a xed and a shiftable toe plate, each including a flat horizontal fastening portion un- Y der the step plate, the xed and shiftable to'e plates being secured to the step plate and release plate, respectively; toe plate control devices operably interconnecting the step plate andrelease plate, said control devices comprising a double incline cam carried by one of said plates and a spring detent carried by the other of said ascwao plates and'adapted -toengafge the -said cam; vand a portion of the step plate adjacent the shiftable toe plate offset downwardly a distance greater than the thickness of the flat fastening portion and secured to the top of the ski, -so that the step plate will completely cover the flat fastening portion, prevent contact between the shoe of the wearer and the fastening means between the release plate and the shiftable toe plate, and thus provide for free movement of the release plate and the shiftable toe plate.

WALLACE E. BREUNER. ERNEST O. CROCKER. 

